Vital numbers

May 19, 2013

In this country we have an average of more than 31,000 people killed each year from guns. We have another 66,000 people injured by firearms. That is an average of 84 people killed each day, 179 injured each day from gun violence. On average there have been about 167 soldiers killed each year for the last 11 years in Afghanistan. Is there anyone who thinks that it is acceptable to have that many more citizens killed in this country than in a country where we declared war. I for one don't think any gun death is acceptable.

After the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., where 26 people were brutally killed, 20 of those children in first grade, the NRA stated that "the only thing to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun." Wayne LaPierre wants every school to have an armed guard. In a time when education is having a difficult enough time funding programs, we are seeing programs cut from schools. Teachers losing their jobs, new teachers not getting a chance to have a job. We are supposed to lock schools down and put armed guards in them and turn schools into prisons. Does anyone think that is acceptable?

By the way, 20 elementary children is only a third of the number of people killed each day. No wonder there is no uproar.

It seems to me that the NRA along with each state government and the U.S. Congress owes the public a better way to protect its citizens. They need to work together and find a way to stem the unacceptable deaths in this country.

I have read the Second Amendment several times and it does not mention guns for hunting or self protection. The Amendment talks of guns for a militia. It seems that we have many militias in this country in the form of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Guards. They all supply their members with armament of all kinds.